Link



June 23, 1942. J. 0+. CLARK 2,287,293 7 LINK Filed April 26, 1941" IIJ vINVENTOR.

kfofzzzfix' al/aiz Patented June 23, 1942 UNETED STTES OFFICE LINKDelaware Application Apri 26, 1941, Serial No. 390,458

6 Claims. (01. 59-87) The present invention relates to links which, forthe purpose of adapting them to be introduced into a chain or otherwiseconnected with existing open structural elements, are composed of twolink members separable in a cleavage plane and each having an opening inits side admitting the element to which it is to be connected. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to cleavage links in which the planeof separation involves the side elements as well as the end elements ofthe link, and the spaced ends which define the opening in each linkmember are secured upon the solid side of the complementary link memberto prevent the said link members from pulling apart when assembled in achain under tension.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel link ofthe type herein identified in which the members are of such a design asto facilitate production thereof frommanganese steel or other alloyscalling for the use of the grinder in finishing. The invention hasproceeded upon the theory of providing a novel link of the typegenerally referred to above which can be readily and easily assembled byrelative lateral movement of the link members into position in embracingrelation to the element to which the link is to be connected, and whichmembers of the link have their ends locked in association with thecomplementary link member, and the said link members being secured toprevent lateral movement by overlapping interlocking prong membersdisposed substantially centrally of the said link members.

The present invention contemplates a novel.

link assembly wherein the opening of each of the link members isreceived by a filler on the complementary link member when the sidemembers are assembled and wherein transverse recesses are formed for theends of the link members lying substantially in the plane of cleavageand defined in part by the said filler and part by lugs spacedlongitudinally of the end of the filler and serving as abutment meansfor the ends of the said link members.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel link ofthe type .hereinabove described wherein the walls defining the recessesare undercut to receive the ends of the complementary link member whichhave wedge forming surfaces disposed to cooperate with said undercutwalls.

As a still further object of the present invention, the said undercutwalls converge outwardly to cooperate with the similarly disposed Wedgeforming surfaces of the ends of the complementary link members tofacilitate the assembly and disassembly of the link members.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended bythe invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessedthereby.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a link made in accordance with thepresent invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are plan views of the inner and outer faces of linkmembers used in forming the assembly according to Figure 1 of thedrawing;

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the link member shown in Figure2 of the drawing;

Figure 5 is a view in end elevation of the link member shown in Figure 2of the drawing; and

Figure 6 is'a view in end elevation of the assembled link.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, an embodiment selected toillustrate the-present invention is shown as comprising twocomplementary link members 2 and 4 of substantially identicalconstruction, these members being separable upon the plane of cleavagerepresented as 6 which, while including both sides 8 and the ends l0 andI2, is at a substantial angle to the general plane of the link so thatit leaves the side 8 with the major thickness of the link member and theside containing opening l4 with minor thickness.

The link members are substantially E-shaped to include the side and endelements as above described, and likewise a substantially centrallydisposed prong Iii-which has its upper surface ii? in substantially thecleavage plane 6 which terminates in the abutment shoulder 2!) laterallyof an opening 22 extending through the same.

The side 8 of each of the link members is formed with a filler or lug 24centrally disposed with respect to the link member which is receivedwithin the opening I4 of the complementary link member when the two linkmembers are assembled. Disposed in longitudinally spaced relation ateach end of the filler 24 are the lugs 26 and 28 formed at the marginaledges of the link members adjacent the periphery thereof and at thejunction between the'side 8 and ends In and i2 and which lugs are formedwith abutting shoulders 30 and 32, respectively. and provide, with thefiller, the transversely disposed grooves or recesses 34 and 36.

Each of the transversely disposed grooves or recesses 34 and 35 isdefined in part by the unlaterally of the filler 24. The end parts l andI2 are formed with the abutment shoulders 50 and 52, respectively,adapted to abut with the abutment shoulders 32 and 30 of the lugs 28 and26.

As will be clearly apparent from the drawing, the link members arecomplementary to one another and are easily assembled by relativelateral movement with respect to one another, at which time the endparts 42 and 44 of each of said members are received in grooves formedbetween the filler and the lugs disposed in longitudinally spacedrelation thereto, and that assembly in the manner indicated causes theprongs l6 and I8 to be disposed in overlapping relation to one anotherwith the opening 22 in substantial alignment for receiving a pin or thelike 54 which holds the link members in assembled relation with respectto one another.

The present link structure constitutes an improvement over the linkdisclosed in the J. O'F. Clark Patent No. 1,824,330, issued September22, 1931, in that no rivets are required to secure the link memberstogether, it having been found that removal of material at the placesindicated in the link members of the patent referred to greatlydecreases the strength of the link assembly because removal of metal atsuch critical points decreases the structural strength of the linkmembers, leading to failure of the assembled link while in'use.Furthermore, the present design for the complementary link members issuch as to facilitate assembly in that the same may be readily placed inassembled relation with respect to one another by relative lateralmovement, after which the assembly may be completed by insertion of thepin 54. In addition, the ends of the complementary link members aresecured in position by the overhanging walls to prevent their pullingapart when the chain is under tension while in use. The convergingrelation of the cooperatin walls of the recesses and the ends of thelink members facilitates assembly and disassembly of the link membersforming the assembled link structure.

While I have herein described and upon the drawing shown an illustrativeembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions,arrangements of parts, details and features without departing from thespirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A chain link comprising two complementary link members separated in acleavage plane that includes both the end and side portions of the linkand adapted to be assembled by relative lateral'sliding of the linkmembers toward one another, each link member having at one side areceiving opening for an element to which the link is to be connectedand on its other side a filler for the opening of its complementary linkmember, each of said link members having lugs spaced from said fillerforming positioning abutments for the other of said link members andproviding transversely disposed recesses lying substantially in theplane of cleavage adapted to receive the ends of its complementary linkmember, and means for interlocking the said link members atapproximately the central part thereof.

2. A chain link comprising two complementary link members separated in acleavage plane that includes both the end and side portions of the linkand adapted to be assembled by relative lateral sliding of the linkmembers toward one another, each link member having at one side areceivin opening for an element to which the link is to be connected andon its other side a filler for the opening of its complementary linkmember, each of said link members having lugs spaced from said fillerforming positioning abutments for the other of said link members andproviding transversely disposed recesses lying substantially in theplane of cleavage adapted to receive the ends of its complementary linkmember, said lugs being formed with shoulders against which said endsabut longitudinally and laterally, and said link members havingoverlapping interlocked substantially centrally disposed prongs forsecuring said link members together.

3. A link as described in claim 1, in which the walls of said filler andlugs defining said transversely disposed recesses are undercut and theends of the complementary link members are formed with wedge formingsurfaces cooperating with said walls to prevent disengagement of thesaid ends from the recesses of the complementary link member when thelink is under tension.

4. A link as described in claim 2, in which the walls of said filler andlugs defining said transversely disposed recesses are undercut and theends of the complementary link members are formed with wedge formingsurfaces cooperating with said walls to prevent disengagement of thesaid ends from the recesses of the complementary link member when thelink is under tension.

5. A link as described in claim 2, in which the centrally disposed prongof each link member is formed with an abutment positioning shouldercooperating with the central prong of the complementary link member andin which the walls of said filler and lugs defining said transverselydisposed recesses are undercut and the ends of the complementary linkmembers are formed with wedge forming surfaces cooperating with saidwalls to prevent disengagement of the said ends from the recesses of thecomplementary l1nk member when the link is under tension.

6. A link as described in claim 2, in which the walls of said filler andlugs defining said transversely disposed recesses are disposed inoutwardly converging relation and are undercut and the ends of thecomplementary link members are formed with wedge forming surfacescooperatin with said walls t prevent disengagement of the said ends fromthe recesses of the complementary link member when the link is undertension.

JOHN OFALLO'N CLARK.

